1. GP at hand
  2. Appointments
  3. General information & FAQs

Diabetic Eye Screening (NHS North West London)

In this article:

Diabetic Eye Disease

Diabetic eye disease is a leading cause of blindness in the UK. Diabetes can affect the blood vessels, causing them to leak into the back of the eye called the retina; this is known as diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic eye screening is a key part of diabetes care. Early identification and treatment of diabetic eye disease can reduce the effects and minimise sight loss. Screening can detect the condition early before you notice any changes to your vision. Diabetic eye disease can harm your vision, though you may not experience any symptoms until it is at an advanced stage. All people with diabetes are at some risk of getting diabetic retinopathy.

 

NHS North West London Diabetic Eye Screening Programme

The NHS North West London Diabetic Eye Screening Programme serves people registered at a GP Practice in Brent, Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham, Harrow, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster. You are eligible for a diabetic eye screening if you live with type 1 and type 2 diabetes and are aged 12 or over.

We will refer you to the screening programme when you are first diagnosed with diabetes. The NHS North West London Diabetic Eye Screening Programme will then invite you to an annual screening appointment.

All the national NHS leaflets related to diabetic eye screening are available on the GOV.UK website (the majority are available in multiple languages, and the ‘Description of Diabetic Eye Screening’ leaflet has an easy read version).

Please get in touch with the programme if you have any questions:

Appointment booking telephone: 020 8099 1122

Enquiries email: enquiries.nwldesp@nhs.net

Website: www.nwldesp.co.uk

 

KNOW Diabetes Service

If you are living with diabetes, at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, or caring for others to live their lives to the full, Know Diabetes is here to help everyone affected by diabetes in North West London: www.knowdiabetes.org.uk/

They aim to provide access to the right information for the right person at the right time.

 

Can I change my screening service?

You will be invited by NWLDESP by letter to an eye screening appointment with a service linked to GP at Hand practice.

You can use the details in the letter to change your appointment time and venue. However, if you are not able to attend the screening with this service due to travel restraints, location, or health issues, you should email the failsafe team at gpahscreening.failsafe@nhs.net stating you would like an eye screening referral to a service closer to your home address. The email must include the following information:

  • Your full name
  • Date of birth
  • NHS number
  • Current postcode, so the referral can be made to an eye screening service in your locality.

Certain services will ask for signed consent from the patient, which the failsafe team will make clear to the patient if this is required at the time.

If you choose to change services again, (or return to the original linked service) the above process will apply, including the reason why you would like to change service again.

Was this article helpful?